Can Texas and other red states limit children from instant access to vast amounts of online pornography? The Supreme Court will decide.

Summary

The Supreme Court signaled support for state-enforced age-verification laws for pornographic websites, as argued in Texas’ case.

Conservative justices cited the surge in children’s access to online pornography and technological changes, calling for reconsideration of past 1st Amendment rulings.

Texas’ law requires websites to confirm users are 18+, a model supported by 23 Republican-led states.

Critics argue it could chill adult free speech, but justices noted filtering software is ineffective. The court may uphold the law or send it back for further review by the 5th Circuit.

  • theneverfox@pawb.socialEnglish
    3·
    20 hours ago

    If they actually cared, just publish a standard that sites declare their minimum age range. Then make apple and Google add a “child mode” that filters this at the DNS level when you set up a device. As it’s opt-in, sites would be responsible for what they’re declaring

    Tech savvy kids will probably be able to get past it, but let’s be honest… Nothing would stop them

    Honestly, I’d even support something like this, and I think you’d get voluntary adoption. Advertisers would like this, it’s not very burdensome technically, and it would give a safer legal framework for everyone

    But of course, this isn’t really about the kids…